Radiator fin



March 13, 1934. J, LQPRlCH Er AL 1,950,500

RADIATOR FIN Filed April i9. 1952 2 sheets-sheet 1 March 13, 1934. J.LOPRlCH E T AL 1,950,500

RADIATOR FIN Filed April 19. 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JLM@- JDN DIDI-Lch.CYAPLES ELLLEAN.

Patented Mar. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES RADIATOR FIN John Loprich andCharles Gillean, Los Angeles, Calif.; said Gillean assignor to saidLoprich Application April 19, 1932, Serial No. 606,224

16 Claims.

This invention relates to water cooling apparatus, and more especiallyto radiators or" the type commonly used upon automotive vehicles forcooling the water which circulates about the combustion chambers of aninternal combustion engine.

An object of the invention is to provide certain improvements inradiator construction, which are adapted to increase the eiciencythereof in the dissipation of heat.

One of the more detailed objects is to provide an improved type ofspacing fin between the water tube members of a radiator, which presentsa greatly increased number of areas of Contact between each spacingplate and the water tube members between which it is positioned, ascompared with more conventional spacing ns.

Another object is to provide a spacing iin having a relatively largenumber of areas of contact between itself and its associated water tubemembers, the efficiency of which in the dissemination of heat is furtherenhanced by integrally uniting the iin to the water tube members at allpoints of contact therebetween.

A further object is a provide a spacing n as described, which is adaptedto present a large number of cutting edges to the stream of air iiowingthrough the radiator, and wherein the cutting edges extend from portionsof the iin which engage the water tube members, the purpose being toposition the cutting edges as close as possible to those portions of theradiator from which it is desired to conduct heat.

A further object is to provide an improved type of water tubeconstruction for radiators of the general'class indicated hereinabove.

A still further object is to provide a novel method of manufacturing aradiator, whereby the spacing fin is integrally joined to the water tubemembers at all points of contact therebetween, and whereby the plates ofwhich each water tube member is composed are integrally joined at allpoints of contact, thereby yielding a unitary construction in theultimate radiator, and one which is of maximum eiciency in conductingheat from the water tube members to the ns or spacing plates.

The invention possesses other objects and advantageous features, some ofwhich, with those enumerated, will be set forth in the followingdescription of the inventions particular embodiment which is illustratedin the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the specification.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of a radiatorconstruction embodying the principles of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse Vertical sectional view taken through two opposedwater tube members and the associated portion of a spacing platedisposed therebetween. The plane of section is indicated by the line 2 2of Fig. 1, and the direction of View by the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but taken upon the line 3-3 of Fig.1, with the direction of view as indicated. The plane on which this viewis taken cuts the water tube members between tubes thereof.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view, which may be considered as ahorizontal section taken upon the line 4 4 of Fig. 3, with the directionof View as indicated.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the water tube members forming aportion of the radiator construction of Fig. 1. A portion of the figureis broken away to reduce its length.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional View taken upon the line 5-5of Fig. 5, with the direction of view as indicated.

The preferred embodiment of the radiator construction of the presentinvention comprises a plurality of spaced Water tube members 6, 7, 8,etc., and a spacing fin or cooling plate 9 disposed within the space 11between each two adjacent tube members. Preferably all of the water tubemembers are of identical construction, and one of them, say the tubemember 6, has been illustrated in detail upon Figs. 4 and 5. Itcomprises a pair of' opposed plates 12 and 13, composed preferably, ofcopper, because of the ductility of this material and its high coefcientof heat conductivity. Each plate is provided with a plurality oflongitudinally extending corrugations 14. The corrugations 14 of eachplate protrude from a common side thereof, leaving the other sidesmooth, save for the longitudinally extending grooves 16 which areformed when the metal oi which the plate is composed, is 106 pressedfrom the plane of the remainder of the plate to define the corrugations14. The plates l2 and 13 are disposed in face-to-ace relationship, i.e., with the faces having the grooves 16 therein abutting each other andwith the grooves 105` 16 in registry with each other, so that one groove16 of one plate cooperates with the corresponding groove oi the otherplate to dene a Water passage 17 between the two plates and extendinglongitudinally thereof.

The two plates 12 v110 and 13 make contact with each other along theirlateral edges 18 and 19, and also between each two adjacent waterpassages 17, as indicated at 21. Preferably the grooves 16 are straightthroughout their entire length, thereby yielding straight water passages17 adapted to conduct a greater volume of water than would be the caseif they were not straight and of the same cross sectional area.

The passages 17 of the tube members are positively separated from eachother by tinning those faces 22 of the plates 12 and 13 which are to beplaced in abutment with each other, as by applying solder 23 thereto,and after the plates have been placed in face-to-face abutment ashereinabove described, they are heated to a temperature above themelting point of the solder 23, so that the solder carried by the twoplates is permitted to fuse. Hence, after the plates have been permittedto cool they will be rmly soldered together wherever they make contactwith each other, i. e., along their lateral edges 18 and 19 and at thelines of contact 21 between each two adjacent passages 17. Preferably,soldering acid is applied to the surfaces before the plates areassembled, to assist in the proper fusion of the solder after the platesare heated. This process of constructing the water tube members andintegrally uniting the plates 12 and 13 thereof, is performed as aportion of the process of building the entire radiator core assembly, aswill be described hereinbelow.

Flanges 24 and 26 are provided at the upper andlower ends, respectively,of each plate 12, 13, these flanges extending to the same side of theplate as that toward which the corrugations 14 protrude. The iianges ofthe two plates 12 and 13 cooperate'with each other to denne headers 27and 28 at the ends of the associated Water tube member, and the headersof all the water tube members 6, 7, 8 cooperate witlr each other todefine substantially continuous headers at the upper and lower ends,respectively, of the radiator core through which the water passages 17extend, as clearly shown upon Fig. 1. For this purpose we prefer thatthe flanges 24 and 26 of one of the plates, say the plate 13, of eachwater tube member be provided with an offset ange 29 adapted to engagethe under surface of the header of the next adjacent tube memberadjacent the edge thereof, as best shown upon 7rigs. 1, 2, and 3.

In accordance with conventional practice, the water or other fluid to becooled is caused to flow Ythrough the water tube passages 17, and, on

account of its contact with the material of which the tube members arecomposed, transmit its heat by conduction to the tube members. One ofthe objects of the present invention is to provide means for eficientlydisseminating the heat thus accumulated by the water` tube members, anditis for this purpose that the spacing iin or plate 9 of the presentinvention has been designed. As stated hereinabove, one of these -plates9 is disposed within the space l1 between each two adjacent water tubemembers, and inasmuch as they all are of identical construction, it willsuice for the purpose of the present disclosure to describe but one ofthem.

Each of the ns 9 is formed from a strip of metal, preferably copper, andis formed preferably by suitable stamping dies soas to present aplurality of major corrugations 36 which eX- tend transversely of thestrip, i. e., perpendicularly withrespect to the corrugations 14 of thewater tube members. The corrugated 1in 9 divides the associated space 11into triangularshaped air cells 33, as clearly shown upon Fig. 1. Thecorrugations 36 correspond in depth to the spacing between adjacentwater tube members, the result being that the crests 37 of the majorcorrugations engage the water tube members adjacent the lateral edges 18and 19 thereof, and between each two adjacent water passages 17.

In registry with each of the corrugations 14 of the tube members oneach. side of the fin, the crests 37 of the major corrugations 36 areindented or reversely bent, thereby providing restrikes or minorcorrugations 39, each of which corresponds substantially in length tothe overall width of the oorrugations 14 in the water tube members. Thespace between each two adjacent restrikes 39 in each of the majorcorrugations 36 corresponds to the distance between the bases of twoadjacent corrugations 14, the result being that the substantiallyV-shaped tongue 41 which is left between each two adjacent restrikes 39,is adapted to engage the associated water. tube member between watertubes 17 thereof throughout the entire length of that tongue (measuredin a direction parallel to the corrugations 36). Thus it may be seenthat the crests 37 of the major corrugations 36 of each n 9 engage oneof the associated water tube members, say the member 6 (see Fig. 2),whereas the crests 42 of the restrikes 39 engage the other associatedtube member 7 (see Fig'. 2). Moreover, the crest 37 of the majorcorrugations engage only those portions of the associated water tubemember within which the corrugations 14 are not formed, i. e., along theedges 18 and 19 of the water tube members and between the tubes 17thereof, whereas the crests 42 of the restrikes 39 engage the oppositewater tube member, but upon the crests ofthe longitudinally extendingcorrugations 14 in that water tube member, whereby the water tubes orpassages 17 are defined. In other words, the crests 37 of all thecorrugations 36 on one side of the iin 9 lie in a common plane, and thecrests 42 of all the restrikes 39 also lie within a common` plane,which, however, is spaced inwards slightly from the crests 37 of themajor corrugations on that samevside of the iin, as clearly illustratedupon Fig. 3. Preferably the crests 37 and 42 of the major corrugations36 and the restrikes 39, respectively, are flattened slightly asindicated at 43 and 44, respectively,

thereby establishing areas, instead of lines, of

contact between the iin and the water tube members.

Inasmuch as the corrugations 36 and restrikes 39 are formed by n ieansof suitabledies, it is desirable to provide means for facilitatingremoval of the stripfrom 'the diesupon its completion. For this purposea'slight indentation 46 is provided in the crest 420i each restrike 39,which serves to draw the ends 47 and 48 of the restrike toward eachother when the indentation 46 is formed. Accordingly, the ends 47 and 48of the restrike are drawnaway from the ends of the depression in the dieinto "which the restrike is forced during the forming process, theresult being that removal of the restrike 39 Vfrom the depression ismaterially facilitated. The indentation being very small, it does notsubstantially reduce the contact area between the restrike 42 and thewater tube. Another advantage of the depressions 46 is that when theyare` formed they cause a slight shoulder 49 to be extended into theV-shaped trough which is donned by the restrike, and this shoulder isengaged by the stream of air owing through the radiator. Hence therelatively large number of shoulders 49 thus provided are adapted toassist in breaking up the smooth flow of air through the radiator',throwing the air across the associated air cell 38, and. causing it toimpinge with greater force against the water tube member upon theopposite side of the air cell, or against another portion of theassociated iin 9.

Each restrike 39 is severed from the remainder of the n 9 along its ends47 and 48, the result being that each of the tongues 41 'is also severedfrom the remainder of the plate along its ends 51 and 52. That end, saythe end 47, of each restrike, and that end, say the end 51, of eachtongue, which are toward the front of the radiator, are accordinglypresented as cutting edges to the stream of air flowing through theradiator, and the presence of the relatively large number of cuttingedges further enhances the efciency of the radiator in disseminatingheat from the water within the passages 17. Although devices of thisgeneral character are commonly called radiators, their maximum coolingefficiency is attained not by radiation but by convection, i. e., thedisplacement of warm air from adjacent a heated surface by cold air. Forexample, the air which is closely adjacent a given portion of theradiator fin becomes warmed by heat transmitted thereto presumably bothby conduction and by radiation, and is then displaced by cold air, whichin turn is also heated by heat delivered thereto by the same portion ofthe n. No matter how the air receives its heat from the n, the trans-`ference of heat from the n to the air will soon cease withoutconvection, i. e., if the heated air is not displaced by cold air, sothat the air immediately adjacent any given portion of the fin is at alower temperature than the n itself. However, the rate at which heat istransferred from the n to the air may be increased if greater relianceis placed upon conduction than upon radiation, and it is for this reasonthat the large number of cutting edges 47 and 51 enhance the eiciency ofour radiator construction in disseminating heat. Wherever one of thesecutting edges is provided the air, in rushing through the radiator,strikes against the metal of the fin, making a so-called wiping contactwith the nn, permitting the n to transmit heat by conduction to the airwhich is thus brought into actual engagement therewith. The shoulders 49serve substantially the same purpose, inasmuch as wherever one of theseshoulders is provided the air will impinge more strongly thereagainstthan would be the case if the n were not provided with some means forinterrupting the smooth now of air along and parallel to its surface.

In view of the fact that each of the restrikes 39, and also each of thetongues 4l, is of substantially V-shaped configuration, and furthermoreengages one of the water tube members along the point of the V, itbecomes apparent that the cutting edges 47 and 51 of the restrikes 39and tongues 41, respectively, extend away from the associated water tubemember and from portions of the fin, which make actual contact with thatwater tube member. Accordingly, those portions of the iin which are mosteicient in transmitting heat to the air are disposed most closelyadjacent the water tube members, the result being that the greatestquantity of heat which is transmitted from the water tube members to theair is required to flow through a minimum distance in the metal of whichthe iin is composed, and by virture of the large number of corrugations36 and restrikes 42, the crests of which contact the water tube,practically each particle of metal of the 1in 9 is used most eii'-ciently in cooling the water in the tubes. This is another of theimportant features which materially enhances the eiciency of ourradiator construction.

The high efciency in dissemination of heat which is attained by means ofthe improved fin construction hereinabove described, makes it possibleto use water tubes wherein the water travels in straight paths from oneend of the radiator to the other. This permits a greater quantity ofwater to travel through the radiator in a given time than would be thecase were water tubes of the same cross sectional area employed, butwhich were other than straight. It is common practice to employ watertube members wherein the water is caused to flow in zigzag paths inmoving through the radiator, so as to reduce the rate of motion of thewater, and thereby make it possible for a greater quantity of heat to betransmitted from the water to the cooling members in a given time. Thisnecessitates, however, a larger quantity of water or a larger radiatorin order to effect the absorption of a given number of heat units in agiven time. Another disadvantage of having the crooked water passages isthat it interferes seriously with cleaning the water tubes, which can beeffected most eiciently by thrusting rods or wires through the tubes. Ofcourse, this is impossible if the tubes are other than straight 1161 orsubstantially so.

It is preferred that every point of contact between each fin 9 and theassociated water tube members be made as eicient as possible in theconduction of heat. For this purpose each n is preferably integrallyjointed as by soldering to its associated water tube members at everypoint of contact therebetween. The method whereby this is accomplishedis to have one or both contacting surfaces of the iin and 125,`

water tube member tinned before the radiator is assembled, and to heatthe assembly to a temperature in excess of the melting point of thesolder, so as to actually fuse the n to the water tube members at everypoint of contact.

This is most easily done at the same time that the two plates 12 and 13of each water tube member are fused to each other. Accordingly, it ispreferred that a radiator construction embodying the principles of thepresent invention be assembled by using plates 12 and 13 for the watertube members 6, 7, 8, etc., which are tinned upon both surfaces. Thefins 9 may be tinned or not, depending upon' existing conditions. Theradiator construction is assembled by placing two plates 12 and 13 inabutment with each other with their grooves 16 in registry, and thenplacing a iin 9 against one side of the water tube member thusdeveloped. Another water tube member is then placed against the oppositeside of the iin, this second water tube member being also assembled fromtwo plates 12 and 13. A second fm is then laid against this water tubemember, and so on until a radiator construction of the desired Width has151).

f prepare the metal for soldering.

been developed. The assembly is then placed in a suitable clamp and ispreferably dipped in soldering acid to clean the contacting portions ofthe fins and water tube members, and thus The assembly is then removedfrom the soldering acid and permitted to drain, and then heated to atemperature higher than the melting point of the solder used in tinning.This causes the solder to fuse the plates 12 and 13 of each water tubemember together along every area of contact therebetween, and also tofuse each iin 9 to the associated water tube members along every area ofcontact therebetween. Hence, after the assembly has been permitted tocool, a unitary assembly has been developed wherein each of the watertubes 17 of each member 6, 7, 8, etc., is positively separated from theother water tubes 17, and wherein the two plates 12 and 13 of each tubemember are integrally united, and wherein all the iins 9 also areintegrally united to the tube members 6, 7, S, etc., upon each sidethereof. This not only yields a radiator construction of maximumphysical strength, but it also materially increases the coefficient ofheat conductivityl of each of the joints between the iins and the watertube members.

It is to be understood that the details of the invention as hereindisclosed, are subject to alteration within the spirit or scope of theappended claims.

We claim: l

1. In a radiator construction, a pair of spaced water tube membershaving longitudinally eX- tending corrugations protuding into the spacetherebetween, and a corrugated spacing nn disposed in said space,portions of the crest of each corrugation of said nn engaging one ofsaid tube members between the corrugations of that tube member and otherportions ot each corrugation of said fin being deflected inwards formingrestrikes, the crests of said restrikes engaging the crests of thecorrugations of the other of said tube members.

2. In a radiator construction, a pair or" spaced water tube membershaving longitudinally eX- tending corrugations protruding into the spacetherebetween, and a corrugated spacing fin disposed in said space,portions of the crest of each lcorrugation of said fin being integrallyjoined to one of said tube members between the corrugations of that tubemember and other portions of said corrugations of said iin being deectedinwards forming restrikes, the crest of said restrikes being integrallyjoined to the crests of the corrugations of the other of said tubemembers.

. 3. In a radiator construction, a pair of spaced water tube membershaving longitudinally extending corrugations protruding into the spacetherebetween, and a spacing n disposed within said space and havingtransversely extending corrugations, the crests of the corrugations ofsaid n being deiiected inwards deiining re.- strikes at intervalssubstantially equal to the spacing between corresponding portions of thecorrugations of said tube members, the crest of each of said restrikesengaging the crest of a corrugation of the tube member most distant fromthe crest ofthe corrugation in l.which said restrike is formed.

4. In a radiator construction, a pair of spaced water tube membershaving longitudinally extending corrugations protruding into the spacetherebetween, and a spacing. iin disposed within said space and havingtransversely extending corrugations, the crests of the corrugations ofsaid iin being deflected inwards defining restrikes at intervalssubstantially equal to the spacing between corresponding portions of thecorrugations of said tube members, the crest of each of said restrikesengaging and being integrally joined to the crest of a corrugation ofthe tube member most distant from the crest of the corrugation in whichsaid restrike is formed.

5. In a radiator construction, a pair of spaced water tube membershaving longitudinally extending corrugations protruding into the spacetherebetween, and a spacing n disposed within said space and havingtransversely extending corrugations, the crests of the corrugations ofsaid iin being deiiected inwards deining restrikes at intervalssubstantially equal to the spacing between corresponding portions of thecorrugations of said tube members, the crest of each of said restrikesengaging the crest of a'cerrugation of the tube member most distant fromthe crest of the corrugation in which said restrike is formed, and therestrikes formed in each or the corrugations of said rin being spacedfrom each other, leaving tongues engaging the associated tube memberbetween the corrugations of that tube member.

6. In a radiator construction, a pair of spaced water tube membershaving longitudinally eX- tending corrugations protruding into thespacetherebetween, and a spacing fin disposed within said space and havingtransversely extending corrugations, the crests of the corrugations ofsaid iin being deiiected inwards dening restrikes .at intervalssubstantially equal t0 the spacing between corresponding portions of thecorrugations of said tube members, the crest of each of said restrikesengaging the crest of a corrugation or" the tube member most distantfrom the crest of the'corrugation in which said restrike is formed, andthe restrikes formed in each of the corrugations of said fin beingspaced from each other, leaving tongues engaging the associated tubemember between each two adjacent corrugations or that tube member.

7. In a radiator construction, a pair of spaced water tube membershaving longitudinally extending corrugations protruding into the spacetherebetween, and` a' spacing n disposedA within said spaceiand havingtransversely extending corrugations, the crests or the corrugations ofsaid fin being deflected inwards dening restrikes at intervalssubstantially equal to the spacing between corresponding portions of thecorrugations of said tube members, the crest of each of said restrikesengaging the crest of acorrugation of the. tube member most distant fromthe crest of the corrugation in which said restrike is formed, and therestrilres formed in each of the corrugations of said iin being spacedfrom. each other, leaving tongues engaging the strikes at intervalssubstantially equal to the spacing between corresponding portions of thecorrugations of said tube members, the crest of each of said restrikesengaging the crest of a corrugation of the tube member most distant fromthe crest of the corrugation in which said restrike is formed, and therestrikes formed in each of the corrugations of said iin being spacedfrom each other, leaving tongues engaging the associated tube memberbetween the corrugations of that tube member, said tongues and restrikesbeing severed from each other along their ends, thereby presentingcutting edges to air flowing through the corrugations of said iin, saidcutting edges extending from portions ci said fin which make contactwith said tube members.

9. In a radiator construction, a pair of spaced water tube membershaving longitudinally eX- tending corrugations protruding into the spacetherebetween, and a spacing iin disposed within said space and havingtransversely extending corrugations, the crests of the corrugations ofsaid iin being deected inwards dening restrikes at intervalssubstantially equal to the spacing between corresponding portions of thecorrugations of said tube members, the crest of each of said restrikesengaging the crest of a corrugation of the tube member most distant fromthe crest of the corrugation in which said restrike is formed, and therestrikes formed in each of the corrugations of said nn being spacedfrom each other, leaving tongues engaging the associated tube memberbetween the corrugations of that tube member, said tongues and restrikesbeing severed from each other along their ends, thereby presentingcutting edges to air flowing through the corrugations oi said n, saidcutting edges extending from portions of said fin which make contactwith said tube members and said fin and tube members being integrallyjoined at all points of contact therebetween.

10. In a radiator construction, a pair of spaced water tube membershaving straight longitudinally extending corrugations protruding intothe space therebetween, and a corrugated spacing iin disposed in saidspace, portions of the crests of the corrugations of said iin engagingone of said tube members between the corrugations of that tube memberand other portions of the corrugations of said iin being deiiectedinwards forming restrikes, the crests of said restrikes engaging thecrests of the corrugations of the other of said tube members.

1l. In a radiator, means providing substantially straight water tubes,and separating fins disposed between said tubes and having transverselyextending corrugations, said corrugations having restrikes, the crestsof said corrugations and said restrikes being joined to the meansproviding said water tubes, and the crests of said restrikes havingindentations extending transversely with respect thereto and drawing theends of each restrike toward each other.

12. A radiator construction comprising spacing water tube members, eachof said water tube Vmembers having beads projecting therefrom into thespace between said members, a 1in comprising a strip of metal corrugatedtransversely with respect to said beads, the crest of each of saidcorrugations engaging one of said members between the beads thereof andbeing reversely bent at intervals equal to the width of said beads,thereby forming a minor corrugation engaging the outermost portions or"the beads ci the opposite water tube member.

13. A radiator construction comprising a rst set of water tube members,a second set of water tube members arranged in one plane and parallel tothe nrst set and forming an air channel therebetween, each water tubemember having beads projecting therefrom into the air channel, a finmade of a strip of metal corrugated transversely with respect to saidsets of water tube members and forming two sets of crests, each set ofcrests being arranged in a vertical plane and parallel to the other setof crests, one set of crests engaging the rst set of water tube membersbetween the beads thereof, the other set of crests being reversely bentat intervals equal to the width of the spacing between said beadsthereby forming minor corrugations disposed in registry with the beadsof the rst set of water tube members, the crests of said minorcorrugations engaging said beads.

14. In a radiator construction, a set of water tube members havingoutwardly projecting beads thereon, a transversely corrugated sheetmetal fin disposed thereagainst having two sets of crests, one set oicrests engaging a water tube member between the beads thereon and theother set of crests having reversely bent portions engaging the watertube member across the beads thereon.

15. In a radiator construction, a set of water tube members havingoutwardly projecting beads thereon, a transversely corrugated sheetmetal n disposed thereagainst having two sets of crests, one set ofcrests engaging a water tube member between the beads thereon and theother set of crests having reversely bent por-y tions engaging the watertube member across the beads thereon, the reversely bent portions beingsevered at their sides.

16. A radiator construction comprising two spaced sets of water tubemembers, each set having beads projecting into the air channel betweenthe sets, and at least one iin in the channel, said nn beingtransversely corrugated forming two sets of major crests, one set ofmajor crests engaging a water tube member between the beads thereon, andhaving reversely bent portions opposite the beads which are severed attheir sides, the other set of major crests having portions opposite saidbeads reversely bent and severed at their sides forming minor crestsengaging said beads between the nrst mentioned set of major crests.

JOHN LOPRICI-I. CHARLES GILLEAN.

